Tsukiji: Memories of a Market

Tsukiji — literally meaning “reclaimed land”— was the original site of Tsukiji Market (itself more commonly known as just ‘Tsukiji’).

Located in Tokyo, Japan, it was one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind, as well as the biggest fish and seafood market in the world.

Nowhere else in the world would you have found so many people so knowledgeable about fish and seafood. Stalls were often family-run and its workers spent decades specialising in just a few varieties of produce.

However, despite over 80 years of history and traditions, the Tsukiji site closed in October 2018, after most of its vendors had relocated to a new site at Toyosu.

With a new name and location, Tsukiji’s modernised incarnation in Toyosu will inherit its legacy and culture. Toyosu is still in its early days, and some fundamental market traditions will certainly remain; but just how much Tsukiji/Toyosu Market will change is still anyone’s guess.

These images showcased are but an excerpt from my self published photobook of the same title.

A Kickstarter campaign for publishing this photobook is planned for 2019.

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Tsukiji: Memories of a Market

Tsukiji: Memories of a MarketTsukiji — literally meaning “reclaimed land”— is the site of Tsukiji Market (itself more commonly known as just 'Tsukiji’).Located in Tokyo, Japan, it is one of the largest wholesale food markets of any kind, as well as the biggest fish and seafood market in the world.Nowhere else on earth will you find so many people so knowledgeable about fish and seafood. Stalls are often family-run and its workers have spent decades specialising in just a few varieties of produce.However, despite over 80 years of history and tradition, the future of Tsukiji Market is currently unknown.Tsukiji was supposed to have relocated to a modern facility in late 2016, but soil contamination issues at the new site put the move on hold. As of early 2018, further investigations into these issues have been completed and the relocation is confirmed to take place in October 2018. Thereafter, the current market will be torn down and a transportation hub for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics will be built in its place.Tsukiji as we know it today will most likely disappear, and be replaced by a modernised version of itself. Some market traditions will surely continue on, but just how much Tsukiji Market will change is anyone’s guess.